As Rafe and Tate Race to Rescue the Girls, Ari’s Escape Attempt Goes Wrong

Leo’s freaking out over the phone with Javi about being stuck on the jury for Johnny’s trial and not being able to report on it. Javi suggests he just write a book about it afterwards. He hangs up, only for Gwen to walk by in the square.

Leo calls her over with a quip, and after a few insults, Gwen settles down to ask about what’s happening at The Spectator. He tells her it’s doing fine, then goes after her for being vindictive and petty, especially about the necklace. Gwen insists again that she’s got other reasons for coming back, and hints at a full “plan” she’s got in her back pocket. But she has no desire to tell a backstabber like Leo what it is.

Fine, but whatever she’s doing is illegal, Leo will uncover and expose her. Gwen laughs at his journalism skills, and Leo assures her that he can uncover scoops — like her heading into the Salem Inn with Xander.

So what? Xander and Sarah are on the rocks, Gwen says. Leo points out that they always find their way back again. And Gwen’s a fool to go back down that road again. Even though she hates him, Leo doesn’t want to see her get hurt again by Xander.

Yes, she hit rock bottom with Xander, but the one who really broke her heart was Leo. He knows, and he’s been trying to apologize ever since. He’d crawl through glass and beg her to forgive him if that would help. It wouldn’t, Gwen tells him coldly.

That’s OK, Leo says, but Dimitri screwed them both over. And she, at least, got his money. Leo landed on his feet, though, Gwen says. He has a new man. “Lucky you.” She looks sad. “And lucky him.” Gwen insists she means it, and Leo awkwardly leaves.

Gabi and Johnny Are Having Problems

Picking up from Friday, Xander and Gabi break their hug and she tells him she doesn’t want to go home just yet. She was so happy Ari wanted to come to Salem, now she wishes she hadn’t let her come. Salem’s been horrible for her. “I feel like it’s all my fault! I’m a terrible mother.”

Xander reassures Gabi that she’s a great mother. He can see how much she loves Ari. And he knows how scary a kidnapping is, but he and Sarah got their happy ending after Victoria was snatched. Gabi will, too.

Johnny gets into work, where he surprises Philip with the news that his trial starts tomorrow and he may have to miss a few weeks. “If you feel you need to fire me for PR reasons, I’ll understand.” Philip says he knows Johnny’s innocent and he’ll be back at work soon.

Johnny thanks him, then leave to get recording equipment for Philip and Xander’s statement. Shortly after, Gabi rushes out of the office, telling Philip she has no time to talk.

Can Xander and Philip Get Along?

Philip heads in and asks what Xander did to Gabi, who, in turn, gets angry with Philip for assuming he’s at fault. Johnny walks in just as the brothers glare each other down. They calm down and sit, and Xander muses that hiring Johnny was poor timing.

He was hired to undermine his dad and, thanks to Philip, Xander growls, Johnny and EJ are as close as ever. Johnny insists he’s loyal to the company, and Philip asks for time alone with Xander.

“You can’t fire Johnny just because he’s made nice with his father.” That’s an HR/PR nightmare. And they need him to whitewash things so they look like a happy, united family. Johnny comes back over and Philip tells him he’s staying and it’s time to shoot this video. Just as Victoria begins crying.

After that’s settled, they shoot the video, with Xander and Philip playing nice until Johnny turns the camera off. They go right back to fighting, with Philip annoyed that Victoria’s in the office in her “tiny little prison.” She doesn’t belong there. Send her back to Sarah. “Get over yourself and think about what Victoria really needs.”

Javi Offers to Help Gabi

Back home, Javi assures Tesoro that no matter what happens, he’ll always be in his heart. Gabi gets home and tears up as she tells Javi that Ari’s been kidnapped, and he immediately grabs her and pulls her in for a hug.

Gabi tells Javi that Rafe is searching for them right now, and he offers to head into work early to see if he can find anything out. Gabi hugs her cousin and thanks him.

It’s a Race to Rescue Holly and Ari

Holly’s trying to pick the lock with a bobby pin, but it’s not working. That’s when Ari spots something by one of the cardboard boxes. It’s a gigantic airduct, and Ari says she sees daylight. They pry the cover off and Ari starts crawling through, only to get stuck and panic.

Tate’s wandering around the alley the girls were taken from, while someone lurks nearby with a gun. It’s Rafe, who demands to know what he’s doing there. Tate shows him Holly’s class ring and offers to split up and search the empty warehouses with Rafe. No, that’s too dangerous, Rafe says. Stay and wait for the police while he searches.

Tate, naturally, ignores Rafe as soon as he’s gone. He gets to warehouse 18 and hears Ari yelling for help. Inside, Ari starts hyperventilating, just as Tate gets to the door, hears Holly inside and kicks it down.

Rafe gets there a short time later to find them hugging, and sends Tate and Holly to tell everyone where they are. Rafe calls to Ari in the vent, only to hear her scream as it sounds like a fall. He calls to her more, but she doesn’t answer. Ari’s unconscious.

Ari’s Finally Rescued

As Gabi’s looking after Tesoro, Leo gets home and tells her Javi texted her, and offers his condolences. Just then, Javi calls to tell her that Rafe found Ari and Javi’s on her way over. Gabi’s overwhelmed and tells Leo, who’s overjoyed for her. Gabi’s so happy, she even lets him hug her. As soon as Gabi’s gone, Leo calls Doug to yell at him. “You didn’t think to tell me that the other woman you’re involved with is my boyfriend’s cousin?!”

Out in the alley, Tate comforts Holly, telling her she’s safe. “Because of you,” Holly says. They worry about Ari, then Holly gushes about Tate rescuing her. He insists she means everything to her, but before they can kiss, Gabi show up, asking where her daughter is.

Javi arrives after Rafe gets her out of the air duct and starts getting to work. He gets some oxygen on her and she wakes up just as Gabi rushes in.

In the Show’s Final Moments

Gwen gets back to her hotel room and puts the necklace in her safe. She muses to herself that she’s just getting started. “Oh, Salem, you really are in for a rip-roaring good time.”

Johnny leaves the guys alone to fight. Xander snarls that this is a nightmare. They can’t work together. They both insist the other should go to the Hong Kong office, then Philip, also leaves. Xander admits to Victoria that her uncle is getting under his skin. He can’t kill him and can’t keep him, so, “We’ll just have to come up with a more creative solution.”

Leo rocks Tesoro while telling him that he may be a bit overprotective. “I would protect you with my life, Tesoro. No questions asked.” Gabi and Ari tell each other that they love each other and embrace, while outside Rafe says Shawn needs her down at the station to take her statement.

Holly says an emotional farewell to Tate, who just takes a deep breath after she’s gone. He gets a voicemail from Sophia and sees she’s in labor. “Oh my God!”